Wire-strainer.



' UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

THOMAS FRANCIS LOOKE, OF PREMAYDENA, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO EDWIN WALTER DUNOOMBE, OF DELORAINE, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA.

WIRE-STRAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed July 11,1906. Serial 110.325.718.

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to appliances of that class by which loose wires,as of fencing, may

be strained or stretched tillthey can be united or connected; butthe-invention is of service also for enabling a single wire to bestrained and for any analogous purpose.

In carrying out this invention a pair of wire-gr'pping frames areprovided, one having a chain or the like connected to it and the other alever or suitable straining member. The lever-fulcrum has at each sidethereof a pivoted hook, the hooks being of equal length and advancingalong and gripping successive chain-links or the like as thelever-handle is reciprocated. This action draws the grip ping-frameswith the loose wires closer and eventually makes the wires as taut asrequired, so that they may be fastened together or dealt with in anysuitable way.

This invention does not necessarily employ hooks, as other knownequivalents to be operated by a lever will answer, nor is it limited toother minor details. The improvements provided by this invention are inthe gripping-frames, the lever, and in certain combinations of parts asbelow claimed.

In the drawings herewith, Figure l is a plan view showing a pair ofgripping-frames (each holding the end of a loose Wire) having means bywhich the frames may be drawn closer together. Fig. 2 represents a sideelevation of a gripping-frame partially secured to a post. When fullysecured, it is ready for straightening a single wire or the like. (Notshown.) Fig. 3 is an edge view of the lever-head.

In Fig. 1 one Wire is marked a, the other I). These have loose endswhich this appliance enables to be brought together. 0 and d are arms(pivoted together) of one gripperframe, and v and a similar pivoted armsof the other frame. The arms have meeting jaws at one side of the pivot,the pivots being 5 5 well at one side of the frame middle line to leavethe middle free for the wire to be gripped. Arms 0 d and u o divergefrom one another, and the latter have. connectionlinks 8 t and aconnection 1) to a pivot-pin 0, secured to the end of lever m. Thegripper frame 0 d h i y' has a clear central space of large size adaptedto be advantageously utilized, as when connecting wires a b in astraight line after straining. Parts h i, j are further described below.Either or each gripperframe is provided with one or more lugs with eyes,as g y, for connection of a band or wire, another part of which is, whenU required, passed round a supporting object, as 2, and an end of thewire held tightly between the jaws of the gripper-frame. When this isdone, a single wire may be strained by using a suitable device, as thelever having %he gripper-frame connected to it. (Shown in 7 '5 In theconstruction usually adopted in this invention the metal forming thebody of each arm 0 or o is extended and bent upward and over, asillustrated, to provide a aw-re- 8o cess for any wire which is to bestrained. The recesses are as at e and w.

The more tightly strain is .put upon the gri per-frames the more tightlywill they ho d their wires. 8 5

Both the gripper-frames may be alike and resemble either formillustrated.

Either gripping-frame may, if desired, be connected to a post or support.2 by a wire a, one end of-which is shown passed through a hole in a lug9, made by extending arm 0 .on the outer side of its pivot.

m indicates any suitable straining-lever provided with hooks q r or thelike, and Z is a chain connected by hook or link 7c to the bar '95 j ofa gripper-frame, which has connectinglinks of any suitable kind, h i.

Each pair of gri per-arms is pivoted together by a suitab e pin 0 v,which passes through arms 6 (Z, (or o u,) the pin-head pass- I00 ingthrough a lug f (or 00) formed in the blank from which the arm is madeand then bent over to produce a slot or recess f, (or 0c,) as seen inFigs. 1, 2, in which part of the arm. d

(or u) is held. Special support for the pivotpin is, thus provided, andthe alinement of arms will be maintained under severe strain.

The Wire-gripping jaws on arms 11 and u enter recesses at e and w,respectively, and the form ofthe parts is such as to cause each saidrecess to be slightly kinkedwhen under strain.

The end of lever m is made of a single bar 1 of metal bent over andriveted at n, so as tov leave'a longitudinal gap W. The metal sides ofthis gap are perforated at three points 11/, W, and n At n thefulcrum-link p is connected pivotally, and at n and n are pivoted theshanks of the equal hooks q and r.

- As shown in Fig. 1, the entire device is in two. combinations of arts,nothing in either being adapted to wor loose or become separated orlost.

The lever-band may be of any desired kind, thou h shown as a loo 3, andother matters of detai may be reasonably varied also, such asproportions of parts. The loose end 1- of the chain may be bent in anydirection or may be allowed to fall vertically.

The gripping devices described will very readily disengage from thewires when that is desired, but can also hang on comparatively i slackWires by reason of the use 0 e recesses at e; and w. The frame 0 d h iis not rigid, as

' each part isso jointed or connected at its ends as to allow bar freeswinging movement.

sire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination in a wire-stretching member, of a gripping-jawprovided on one longitudinal edge with a bent-over portion forming anoverhanging recessed gripping member, and a second gripping-j awpivotally secured to said first jaw and having a gripping edge operatingin said recessed member, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a wire-stretching member, of a gripping-jawprovided on one longitudinal edge with a bent-over portion forming anoverhanging recessed gripping member and having-a second bent-over aper-1 tured portion to form a bearing, and being also provided. with meansfor securing the end of said jaw, adjacent said bearing, to. ananchorage, and a second gripping-j aw pivotally secured between saidbearing and first jaw and having a gripping edge operating in saidrecessed member, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 1 hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS FRANCIS LOCKE. Witnesses:

ELSIE LOCKE, FRANors JOHN BURTON.

What I claim as my invention, and de-

